The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken a significant step towards enhancing medical education in Jammu and Kashmir by granting approval for 100 MBBS seats in two medical colleges: Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara and GMC Udhampur. The issuance of a Letter of Intent (LOI) by the NMC for these colleges has brought joy to aspiring medical students in the state.

The decision to approve 100 MBBS seats in each of the two medical colleges, GMC Handwara and GMC Udhampur, will result in an additional 200 MBBS seats in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming academic session of 2023-24. This move will create more opportunities for those who aspire to pursue MBBS and establish their careers in the medical field.

On Tuesday, the NMC sent two separate communications to the Government Medical College Handwara and the Government Medical College Baramulla, requesting undertakings. As a result, the NMC issued two separate LOIs for the aforementioned medical colleges.

Bhupinder Kumar, the secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department, has expressed his appreciation for the decision to approve 100 MBBS seats in each of the two medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that this move would have a positive impact on the health situation in the region, as reported by Greater Kashmir.

In an official order issued by the Member/President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC, it was stated, “I have been instructed to refer to your application for the establishment of a new medical college at Government Medical College, Handwara, affiliated with the University of Kashmir, with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students under sections 26(1)(a)(b) and 28(1)(2) and section 61(2) of the NMC Act, 2019, for the academic year 2023-24.”

The proposal to approve 100 MBBS seats each in two medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir was sanctioned based on an assurance given by the Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department, as per the official order. The letter, dated March 21, 2023, with reference number HD/Pian/5/2022-02, stated that the government of Jammu and Kashmir will provide all necessary infrastructure facilities, teaching and non-teaching staff as per the norms specified by the NMC.

Consequently, the NMC has mandated that the essential documents and undertakings be submitted for the issuance of a Letter of Permission to begin or increase the number of seats for the academic year 2023-24.

An official order has stated that the applicant who intends to start new medical colleges or increase the number of seats must comply with the infrastructure requirements, including teaching and non-teaching staff, buildings, equipment, and hospital facilities, as per the guidelines specified by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The order further emphasized that no student should be admitted to the aforementioned courses until formal permission is granted by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).

Similarly, another official order has been issued for the starting of a new medical college at Government Medical College, Handwara, affiliated with the University of Jammu, with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students under sections 26(1)(a)(b) and 28(1)(2) and section 61(2) of the NMC Act, 2019, for the academic year 2023-24.